Detection of Rotaviruses in diarrheic and non- diarrheic fecal samples of captive animals and human workers in Al-Zawra Zoo

The study included detection of rotaviruses in diarrheic and non-diarrheic feces of different species of captive animals and human workers in Al-Zawra Zoo by latex agglutination test (LAT) and negative staining method of electron microscope (EM). A total of 127 fecal samples from different species of captive animals and human workers have been collected from November 2012 to March 2013. The results showed that 10 out of 115 fecal samples from different species of captive animals were positive for rotavirus infection (monkeys, cats, and deer) and 3 positive stool samples from 12 samples of human workers by latex agglutination test. Throughout the study, it have been noticed that 23 captive animal were diarrheic, 8 (34.78%) of them were positive for rotavirus, while the other 15 (65.21%) animals had diarrhea caused by enteropathogens rather than rotavirus. Statistical analysis by using Chi-square test showed that there was significant difference (P≤0.05) between, diarrheal cases due to rotavirus and diarrhea by other causes. A total of 6 selected positive fecal samples in LAT from 13 positive samples of captive animals and humans were examined by negative staining method EM, the results showed that 4 (66.66%) were positive, 2 (33.33%) fecal samples belonged to captive animals (monkey and wild cat) and 2 (33.33%) other stool samples were from human workers. All samples showed the typical structure of the rotavirus: double-shelled particles, with mostly smooth appearance